<p>
</p>
<p>Florida State shares its engineering college with Florida A&M. Oddly, the address given for the engineering college ( [FAMU-FSU</a> College of Engineering :: Map & Directions](<a href=“http://www.eng.fsu.edu/shared/map/]FAMU-FSU”>http://www.eng.fsu.edu/shared/map/) ) is 3.3 miles from FAMU and 3.9 miles from FSU, so a student at either would have to commute from the main campus to engineering classes if they are held at that location. You may want to investigate this further if FSU (or FAMU) is under consideration.</p>
<p>ClassicRockerDad, That was very enlightening to me. I had wondered about the difference between the lac engineering programs (which are often in general engineering) and the ones at universities (where you can focus). To be honest, I figured that outside MIT/ CalTech/ Cornell level schools, there wasn’t even that big a difference between programs as long as they were accredited. </p>
<p>You’re right: he doesn’t necessarily want to be a music teacher. He would love to be a classical musician or a mechanical engineer. Since one is such a difficult career choice and the other is so practical, it might beg the question as to why I am actually encouraging music. Honestly, I think it was because 1- he prefers a small school (and I figured the intro engineering classes would be smaller but that may not always be the case) and 2- financial aid. I figured if he had the basics for engineering (math, science), he could eventually commute to a state school for grad school (or, if need be, a 2nd undergrad) in engineering. Since we have no really good music school nearby, I figured it might be easier to focus getting the $ to finance the music and then just do the engineering at the tail end. (Do you think a state school is adequate?) A 3+2 program basically does the same thing but it does add to the question of whether or not the school gives financial aid for the 5th year. I will definitely look into your suggestions.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>What school do you have in mind? It depends.</p>
<p>A word of caution…engineering is a very tough major. It is extremely demanding and with your sons highschool GPA and board scores it sounds to me that he would struggle in engineering.</p>
<p>Ucb, I hadn’t realized that. Thanks!</p>
<p>Momma, you’re right: it’s a hard major. Actually, music is also but most people who can’t make it bail way before applying to music schools. I have no idea if my son will or won’t make it through any specific major but those fields are compatible with his strengths and interests. (In other words, his low grades weren’t in math or music.) We’ll see how things work out.</p>
<p>Any larger Flagship State U. in the South :-). A lot of the land grant type schools have good engineering programs and you can research the music side. I would first focus on the Engineering side and then worry about the music side. If the music minor is in performance, keep in mind the performance requirements may involve significant practice time - not an easy feat. </p>
<p>The most important question is where does the OP’s son sees himself down the road. My daughter thought about a music minor added on to her architecture major. Sanity prevailed when we realized the practice requirement for music and the studio requirement for architecture would result in great room and board savings - no time to sleep or eat :-). So she may pursue a minor in music theory and history which has more sane requirements. Despite classical piano training for 12 years, at some point prioritization needs to occur. </p>
<p>Engineering is not THAT difficult, once you get past the weed-out first and second year courses. I’d say music is more difficult as it is far more objective than subjective. Math or Physics, either you cut it or you don’t. In music, there’s a lot of gray area.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Plenty of state schools are good at engineering, and some are great at engineering (lists of “top engineering schools” tend to have greater state school representation than other lists of top schools). And even lesser known schools with ABET-accredited engineering degree programs need to maintain a floor on the quality of the engineering program to maintain ABET accreditation.</p>
<p>However, instead of doing music first and then doing engineering, perhaps consider the reverse. He can go to a school where he can do engineering (preferring a school where he can take courses or minor in music). After completing the engineering degree, he can then go to a music school, or he can defer the music school until after working as an engineer for a few years, paying off any loans and saving some money. If this is of interest, check the music schools about how they handle applicants who have bachelor’s degrees in a non-music subject.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Other things could trip up a student trying to do a 3+2: (a) not getting admitted to the “2” school as a transfer applicant from the “3” school, (b) not getting enough financial aid at the “2” school (even for the first of the two years there).</p>